I was raised in the Norman Rockwell style of childhood.  Although some would not think that this style could be possible in a place like Reno, Nevada.  But I assure you that it was as I am living proof.  Unfortunately nothing lasts forever, especially the good things.  At about 17 I joined a cult and spent the next fifteen years or so devoting my life to God, or at least I thought that I was.  In the end despite the perverted trappings, lies, mind control and various abuses if one could stay away from the nucleus of the organization one could in fact devote their lives to God with only a few cult like distractions.  Eventually I managed to make a clean break from the cult and found that living for God was much easier when someone wasn't always telling you their opinion on how I should do so.  Hence despite my strong spiritual convictions you will not find me in any churches any time soon.  If someone manages to survive a cult without too many scars, physical or emotional they find themselves with a unique perspective on organizations of any sort and especially of religious organizations.  Most find that they can "name that scam" in one note.  Once out on my own without the cult to tell me what to do, I managed to find a fairly nice life as a Deputy Sheriff in my home town.  I did after all develope quite the knack for spotting liars.  I eventually moved from the Sheriff's office to the State and that is where I now find a paycheck.  In the midst of this I still find that I love God and am often asked questions concerning the Bible.  Most of the time I can answer the questions but upon occassion I find that what I thought that I knew in fact makes no sense.  So I re-research the material and try to find the truth.  I often find that what I thought I knew, I didn't really know at all and what I had believed for so long is really a lie.  I am still scooping out the sh*t that the cult left behind.  It will be a lifetime endeavor.  But I am finding that writing is helping.

Most of my rewards, awards and certifications either come from law enforcement/military. I did participate in the NaNo contest a few years ago and managed to write a book out of the 50,000 word mess that I came up with. That book turned into three more and that inspired more. So I guess that was a really big achievement.